Angry Oceans: Canucks & Sharks

San Jose Sharks @ Vancouver Canucks

7:00 PM PST

Sharks

Canucks

12

Wins

11

6

Losses

7

4

OTL

3

2.95 (T-10th)

Goals/Game

2.95 (T-10th)

2.70 (12th)

Goals Against/Game

2.67 (11th)

21.6% (10th)

PP

25.6% (1st)

83.7% (12th)

PK

86.8% (5th)

What To Watch For

> Similar in more than just aquatic mascots: It’s not often you see two teams almost dead even in goals per game and goals against. In addition, both teams have a bad habit of starting slow and grinding out a win in the final twenty or in the OT. Both are coming off much-needed wins of rival Western squads to boot. Flip a coin, it’s going to be razor-thin contest. If history is any indication then we’re in trouble since San Jose enjoys a 10-2 record over Vancouver since the start of the 2007-08 season.

> Here to stay?: With Rypien off the team indefinitely for personal reasons, Jeff Tambellini has no reason to think he’s flying back to the Moose anytime soon. But can he stay in the top six? Presumably yes since Mikael Samuelsson is still a shadow of his former self. But AV’s patience is notoriously short. Tambo provided a good spark (and knock to the opposition goalie’s head) for the Kesler line, but the Sharks represent a tough test. The more offensive changes he can add the better, especially if it jumpstarts the struggling Mason Raymond in the process.

> Getting a bit defensive: San Jose was in the Willie Mitchell sweepstakes this summer and never landed the big ticket defenseman they coveted. Presumably Vancouver did, but as far as GAON/60 goes, the Sharks have been pretty good by comparison (shield your eyes, this ain’t pretty).